Roberto Pruzzo is an Italian former footballstriker, now a coach. He currently is the Sports manager of Como. He represented Italy at UEFA Euro 1980. A prolific goalscorer, Pruzzo was one of the best Italian strikers of his generation, and he is regarded as one of Roma's greatest players. He was known as a physically strong and hard-working centre-forward throughout his career, with good technique, link-up play, hold-up play, and an eye for goal, but was renowned in particular for his heading accuracy, elevation, and ability in the air.
Club career
Born at Crocefieschi, in the province of Genoa, Pruzzo made his debut in professional football for Genoa in 1973. There he remained for six seasons, scoring 57 goals in 143 matches, winning the Serie B title during the 1975–76 season, as well as the top scoring award. Pruzzo passed to Roma in 1979, for the then record sum of 3 billions liras. Here he became famous as one of the most effective Italian strikers of the 1980s, winning one scudetto during the 1982–83 season, and four Italian Cups in 1980, 1981, 1983, and 1986. He also won the Serie A top scorer award three times, in 1981, 1982, and 1986, as well as the Coppa Italia top scorer award in 1980. He also scored a goal in the 1984 European Cup Final, when Roma, playing at home, was beaten on penalties by Liverpool. He ended his career in 1989 after a season for Fiorentina. He helped the club to a seventh-place finish in Serie A that season, and he scored the decisive goal against his former club in the UEFA Cup playoff match, from a Roberto Baggio assist, which allowed Fiorentina to qualify for the UEFA Cup the following season. Pruzzo is the sole Italian player to have scored 5 goals in a single Serie A match.
International career
Despite a fantastic club career, Pruzzo only managed to play 6 games for the Italy national football team between 1978 and 1982. He represented his country at the 1980 UEFA European Championship in Italy, where they reached the semi-finals, finishing the tournament in fourth place, and also at the 1980 Mundialito. He was left out of Enzo Bearzot's 1982 World Cup-winning squad. Pruzzo did, however, score in an Italian shirt, representing Italy in the 1991World Cup of Masters. Pruzzo scored twice in the opening round.
